Once small and marginal – today the most invested space in the home

The bathroom, which was once considered a relatively functional and marginal space in the Israeli home, has in recent years become one of the central areas in home planning and design. It is no longer a small space with a purely practical purpose, but one that combines design, technology, and user experience.

“The bathroom is one of the spaces that has changed most dramatically in the Israeli home,” says Einat Atias, product manager in the tile division of the Negev Group. “Today’s consumer is not willing to compromise on either design or functionality.”

In public housing apartments from the 1950s to the 1970s, the bathroom was usually a compact space of 2–3 square meters, where the bathtub and toilet were combined. There was no separation, no experiential planning, and no significant design consideration. The finishing materials were also very basic, with simple white tiles and terrazzo floors.

“This was a perception of a basic need only,” explains Atias. “Not of an experience.”

In the 1970s and 1980s, colors and shades began to appear – light blue, brown, and gray – but still in a relatively limited selection. In the 1980s and 1990s, bathrooms grew slightly, decorative elements were added, and color combinations became more common. In larger apartments, guest toilets also appeared, but in most homes there was still only one main bathroom space.

The significant transformation came in the early 2000s, with a clear change in design language. Shades of gray, a concrete look, and a minimalist line became dominant, and the bathroom began to gain equal status with the rest of the home.

At the same time, planning also changed: A master suite with an attached bathroom became standard, and sometimes a general bathroom and guest toilets were added as well. The bathroom was no longer hidden but became part of the overall design, sometimes even one of the most prominent spaces in the home.

In the past decade, the bathroom has taken another leap forward, this time thanks to the integration of technology and advanced materials. Tiles that mimic stone, marble, wood, and metal allow for the creation of a richer and more precise design language.

“We no longer talk about a single tile but about complete collections,” says Atias. “Systems of shades, sizes, and finishes that create an overall design language.”

At the same time, there is a noticeable trend of returning to nature: Beige tones, stone textures, and the use of travertine have become especially common, alongside treatments that emphasize a more organic and softer look.

The change does not stop at design. The user experience in the bathroom has also become far more advanced: Large “rain” style shower heads, thermostatic faucet systems, wall-hung toilets with concealed mechanisms, and smart solutions such as heated seats, washing and drying functions, and mirrors with built-in lighting and anti-fog features.

Alongside these, elegant drainage solutions and custom carpentry have also been introduced, allowing for full adaptation to the space.

One of the most prominent trends today is the shift to large, spacious shower enclosures, replacing bathtubs in many homes. This is not a compromise, but a choice that suits the modern lifestyle.

Guest bathrooms have also received greater attention, becoming small but carefully designed spaces, with meticulous materials, finishes, and details.

“Israelis want a bathroom that looks good but also works well in everyday life,” Atias concludes. “There is a combination here between the desire to indulge and the need for comfort and easy maintenance.”

Thus, within just a few decades, the bathroom has undergone a profound conceptual transformation: From a hidden functional space to one of the most central, designed, and well-planned spaces in the Israeli home.